The Small Business Sessions

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a eighth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the eighth and final episode in the series is Olly Tyler, owner of greetings card business, Shroot.Shroot creates eco-friendly, biodegradable cards that come with everything you need to grow microgreens, including the pot. It's a gift, card, experience and snack all in one.Olly didn't start the business, but bought it as a failing venture. He has since turned it into a great success, and has also purchased two other businesses; Kabloom and Bottle Farm. In the inspiring episode, Olly and Dan discuss topics including:Why Olly bought Shroot and his advice to others for buying a businessHow he turned a failing business into a successOliver's advice for entrepreneurs struggling with their businessFunding strategies for growing a businessHow being an Enterprise Nation member has benefitted OllyBig thanks for tuning into series eight of the Small Business Sessions. Look out for series nine coming soon!----- The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-adviceTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a eighth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the seventh episode is Saasha Celestial-One, co-founder of local sharing app Olio.The idea for Saasha's groundbreaking business came about when her business partner Tessa Clarke trawled the streets looking for someone who might be able to use her spare food when she was moving house.The two friends tested their solution in a WhatsApp group for neighbours in North London, and it's now an app used by millions around the world for finding what they need and sharing what they don't with local people.In an inspiring episode, Sasha and Dan discuss:tips for growing a successful apphow to use business to benefit the environmentthe UK as a good place to grow a technology companyhow Saasha funded the companyrunning a business with a co-founderhow to build partnerships with big organisationshow businesses can continue to innovate----- The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-adviceTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a eighth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the sixth episode is Jake Bucknall, co-founder of pizza business Dinner for One Hundred.Chef Jake started the company in South London in 2020 with his former tour guide friend Jacob as a dinner for 100 people. But then lockdown hit so they decided to sell pizzas outside Jacob's mum's house. The popularity was so great that they ran out of space and moved to a pop-up site. That has now been developed into a permanent pizzeria, alongside another bar, selling their pizzas in a central London pub and running four events a month. In the show, Dan and Jake discuss topics includingthe impact of the pandemictips for setting up a restauranthow to be successful at crowdfunding the secrets to putting on a great eventtips for business success----- The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-adviceTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a eighth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the fifth episode is Josh Kleiner, who runs sandwich shop chain Sandwich Sandwich with his dad Nick.The family business started with a small shop in Bristol in 2010 and now has three branches in the south west city.In 2023, the business was named Uber Eats Restaurant of the Year and won £100,000. This allowed the father and son team to open a flagship London store which is so popular that people queue for up to an hour to buy their lunch.The success of the business has also been helped by social media. Its famous giant sandwiches have gone viral many times, with TikTok influencer Kalani Ghost Hunter telling his three million followers that it was "one of the best things he has ever put in his mouth".In the show, Dan and Josh discuss:how the business has grown from the first small shopthe reasons behind its popularity on social mediathe impact the social media buzz has had on the businessopening a flagship branch in Londonhis advice for running a high street businesshis tips for business success-----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-adviceTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a eighth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the fourth episode is Elyssa Desai.Elyssa is a mindset expert, speaker and coach who guides business owners and others through their what am I doing with my life moments. A huge focus of her work is helping individuals to understand and reprogramme their mindset so they can confidently achieve their dreams.In the inspiring episode, Dan and Elyssa discuss topics including:How to manage imposter syndrome as a business ownerDealing with burnoutHow being an Enterprise Nation adviser has helped her businessStarting a business during the COVID-19 pandemicTips for podcasting-----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-adviceTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a eighth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the third episode is is Lynsey Crombie, also known as the Queen of Clean.Lynsey first joined Instagram in 2016 and posted an image of her newly clean floor with a bottle of product. Despite having only 40 followers, she got 190 likes and realised she was on to something. Within six months, Lynsey had 7,000 followers, started being paid by brands to promote their products and became the UK's first cleaning influencer. Nearly a million people now keep up to date with Lynsey's cleaning tips on social media, she has written several books, and she makes regular appearances on television shows including ITV's This Morning and Good Morning Britain. In the episode, Lynsey and Dan discuss topics including:becoming a social media influencerhow to grow a following online negotiating influencer deals with brandsbuilding a career as a TV expert the power of Facebook groupsmanaging a work/life balance-----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-adviceTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a eighth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the second episode is Clare Andrews, the home cook turned social media sensation who's known as the Air Fryer Angel. Clare's culinary journey began during the lockdowns of 2020 when she was gifted an air fryer. She began to explore the full potential of the popular kitchen gadget and shared her air fryer recipes on Instagram. Clare now has more than 100,000 followers on Instagram, has published three bestselling cookbooks and has appeared on several air fryer-themed TV programmes. In the show, we discuss Clare's journey to becoming a social media influencer plus her tips for growing a following online, writing a book and attracting media coverage. -----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-adviceTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a eighth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the first episode in the new series is entrepreneur and investor Richard Harpin.Richard is best known as founder of home assistance company, HomeServe, but his entrepreneurial journey began at an early age. That included selling rabbits at age 6, and running a fishing fly-tie company, which earnt him enough for the deposit on his first house.Richard grew HomeServe into a FTSE 100 listed business, with thousands of employees serving millions of customers around the world. In 2023 he sold it to Brookfield Asset Management for £4.1 billion.Richard has stayed on as chair of HomeServe EMEA. He also invests in other entrepreneurs via Growth Partner and in 2023, he acquired Business Leader, a platform and membership community supporting mid-sized firms.With Richard's huge entrepreneurial experience, this is a podcast you don't want to miss!-----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-adviceTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a seventh exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the ninth and final episode in the current series is Steve Folland, a freelancer podcaster and video editor. With a long career in radio, Steve went freelance in 2013 and hasn't looked back! Alongside his work creating videos and podcasts for other people, he launched his own show, Being Freelance, in January 2015, followed by the Being Freelance vlog in 2016. Steve, who has been using Dropbox since 2013, also runs the Being Freelance community and is the co-host of Doing It For The Kids, a podcast for freelance parents which won gold for Best Business Podcast at the British Podcast Awards in 2021.In the show, Dan and Steve discuss topics including:how to succeed as a freelancerhow to set your prices as a freelancerhow to win new freelancer clientstech tools to boost productivity and efficiencythe impact of AI on the creative sectorDropbox is the one place to keep life organised and keep work moving. Tools include Dropbox, File Request, Dropbox Replay and Dropbox Sign.Big thanks for tuning into series seven of the Small Business Sessions. Look out for series eight in January 2025! -----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-adviceTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a seventh exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for episode eight is Stephen Lane, founder of entertainment memorabilia business Propstore. In the early 90s, movie lover Stephen began hunting for the props and costumes that were used to create his favourite films. His collecting hobby became a business in 1998 and more than 25 years later, Propstore has 70 employees in London and Los Angeles and more than 25,000 square feet of archived props and costumes. The business also turns over £35m despite Stephen having taken on no external investment. Since it started, Propstore has located and auctioned thousands of famous items to collectors around the world. Items include the lightsaber used by Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back, Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones Fedora, and guitars played on stage by the Gallagher brothers from Oasis. In an insights and advice packed episode, the entrepreneur discusses turning a love for movie props into an actual business, how he tracks down memorabilia to sell, reaching a £35m turnover despite taking on no external investment, establishing a business in the US, running a business during several economic downturns and lots more. -----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-adviceTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a seventh exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for episode seven is mixed media visual artist and Enterprise Nation member Christian Azolan. After a work contract ended due to the coronavirus pandemic, he began creating digital illustrations. That hobby soon turned into a business as Christian used the downtime during lockdown to create a brand for selling his limited edition artwork online. Since then, Christian has had several successful exhibitions, and achieved a significant amount of press coverage for his work. In the episode, Dan and Christian discuss how artists can commercialise their work, his brilliant advice for how small business owners can make media headlines, the importance of knowing your numbers, how he is bringing artists together via a social enterprise collective, the business boosting benefits of being an Enterprise Nation member, and lots more!-----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-adviceTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a seventh exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for episode six is Kat Pither, founder of eco-friendly yoga mats and accessories brand Yogi Bare. Kat first got into yoga while in rehab to deal with anxiety, PTSD and addiction. That love of the practice led her to becoming a yoga teacher, and she started Yogi Bare as a side project.  During the brilliant conversation, Dan and Kat discuss using yoga to deal with mental health, starting a product business, encouraging a strong and supportive community around a business, building an ethical and sustainable company, growing a team and lots more.-----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-adviceTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a seventh exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for episode five is Erika Robinson, UK general manager at digital marketing platform Constant Contact, one of the partners of Enterprise Nation's business.connected programme. During her career, Erika has spent two decades working across strategy and finance for some of the UK's most recognisable brands, including financial software giant Intuit, and mental health company Headspace. Erika is also a small business owner herself so has an in-depth understanding of entrepreneurs' priorities and predicaments. In 2019, she founded Picnic, a play centre where children can learn about the world by acting out roles in everyday life, such as putting out a fire, delivering the post and serving customers in a shop. The business has employed over 30 people and welcomed 200,000 parents and children through its doors. In the show, we discuss Erika's tips for how to succeed with your digital marketing, her lessons from working in top companies, why she believes small businesses have several superpowers that big companies don't have and her experiences running her own small business. Constant Contact offers email and digital marketing tools that make it easy for your small business or nonprofit to get the attention and revenue it deserves. -----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-adviceTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a seventh exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for episode four is Dhruvin Patel, co-founder of blue light screen eye protector brand Ocushield. Whilst studying optometry at university, Dhruvin launched the initial development of his blue light filtering technology that make eyes healthier, improves sleep and boosts happiness. Since then, the business has grown into an international brand that has helped more than 300,000 eyes in over 147 countries. Ocushield also appeared an BBC TV's Dragons' Den and secured investment from Peter Jones and Tej Lalvani. The deal ended up not going through, but Ocushield went on to get £1m in funding, much more than they secured on the show. In the episode, Dhruvin discusses what happened on Dragons' Den, why the deal ended up not going through, how he raised more funding, his tips for accessing finance, managing relationships with investors and lots more. -----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-adviceTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a seventh exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for episode three is Jade Beason, founder of The Creator Project, who helps entrepreneurs to grow their online presence, multiply their income streams and create profitable businesses.Jade began her career in marketing and sponsorship, but quit corporate life in 2021. She used her eight years of experience to turn her YouTube channel into a six-figure business shortly after uploading her first video. In the show, we discuss switching from a side hustle to a full-time business, and how to grow a successful YouTube channel, plus Jade's tips for growing a subscription service and making the most of social media to power your entrepreneurial success. -----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-adviceTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a seventh exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for episode two is Marnie Swindells, founder of Bronx Boxing Club, who won BBC TV's The Apprentice in 2023. Marnie started boxing at the age of 17 and dreamed of opening her own club. She did just that in February 2023 when she launched her business in South East London, and is going for growth with the help of the £250,000 investment she won from Lord Sugar on the show. During our conversation, we discuss how Marnie's long held love for boxing became a business, what it's really like to appear on The Apprentice, the experience of working with Lord Sugar and her tips for entrepreneurial success.-----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital and adopt new technology. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-adviceTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a seventh exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips! The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Constant Contact, JP Morgan and Dropbox.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for episode one of the new season is Elsie Rutterford, co-founder of skincare brand BYBI Beauty. The original idea for the business, which stands for ‘By Beauty Insiders', came about after Elsie and her partner Dominika started making their own natural skincare products using food. The brand's products are now sold online and in retailers around the world.  During the fascinating chat, Elsie and Dan discuss growing a multi-million-pound brand, creating the world's first carbon negative skincare product, raising finance, getting stocked in major retailers, personal branding and more.  -----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online.  To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedFor a free one-to-one consultation with an expert business adviser from Vodafone's V-Hub, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business/sme-business/small-business-advice/personal-advice To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

It's time for the 10th and final episode in season six of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin is Cynthia V Davis CBE, founder of Diversifying Group. Cynthia has more than 20 years of experience in the recruitment industry having worked within and recruited for several well-known large brands. In 2015 she started her own business to help organisations become more inclusive and make recruiting decisions that better reflect our diverse society. In the episode, Cynthia and Dan discuss what diversity means, why it's important for small businesses, the power of being a B Corp and what more needs to be done to support female entrepreneurs. Big thanks to everyone who has tuned in to the sixth season of the Small Business Sessions.-----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online.  To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

It's time for episode nine in season six of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin is social entrepreneur Navjot Sawhney, founder of The Washing Machine Project. Navjot is a former Dyson engineer, and he was volunteering in India when he noticed the burden placed on women by unpaid domestic work. This inspired him to design the Divya, a crank-handle manual washing machine that is off-grid, fully sustainable and saves both water and time. Through the Washing Machine Project, tens of thousands of people have been impacted worldwide, women have been empowered and hundreds of washing machines have been distributed to villages, refugee camps, schools and orphanages. -----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online.  To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

It's time for episode eight in season six of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan.In this week's show, freelance journalist Dan Martin speaks to Cat Byrne, founder of Gatto Web.Cat is a Manchester-based creative designer who set up her business in 2014. She helps small companies to develop a strong brand so they stand out and attract their target customers In the episode, Cat and Dan delve into what makes a great brand, how to stay consistent with yours and top tips for great design. -----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online.  To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

It's time for episode seven in season six of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan.In this week's show, freelance journalist Dan Martin speaks to a successful online influencer who uses social media to provide short and snappy advice on all things personal finance.  As Cazza Time on Instagram and TikTok, Cameron has built up a following of more than half a million people who enjoy his tips on everything from tax and student loans to money saving ideas and investments. In the episode, Dan and Cameron discuss the world of online influencing, how to make great video content and the power of TikTok for small businesses. -----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online.  To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

It's time for episode six in season six of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan.In this week's show, freelance journalist Dan Martin speaks to Daisy Morrs, founder of social media consultancy and digital community The Selfhood and author of Community Is Your Currency, a book which teaches business owners the steps to growing a meaningful online community.   Daisy started her journey in entrepreneurship after being frustrated by the lack of down-to-earth and human advice for those trying to find their way in the world of digital marketing and social media. In the episode, we discuss the power of community and how founders can build a strong and authentic community around their business. -----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online.  To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

It's time for episode five in season six of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan.In this week's show, freelance journalist Dan Martin speaks to Rachel Waring.Rachel is a wedding stylist turned creative marketing consultant. She supports independent businesses to produce creative content and show off their best work.Rachel has a particular focus on how founders can make the most of social media platform Pinterest and that's a key subject discussed in the show. Dan and Rachel also chat about how to stay creative, the secrets to successful content planning and what AI means for content creation. ----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online.  To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

It's time for episode four in season six of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan.In this week's show, freelance journalist Dan Martin speaks to Kay Suppamas, founder of Leafage, the London-based company focused on nature-inspired experiences with terrarium workshops and kits. In 2016, after the sudden loss of her father, Kay realised the importance of putting your wellbeing first and how plants can support mental health. She then started a journey to creating a business that revolutionises how city dwellers, with limited access to green space, interact with nature. In the episode, we hear Kay's inspiring story and her tips for business success. ----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online.  To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

It's time for episode three in season six of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan.Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the third episode is business and marketing strategist Alice Benham. Alice had an early start in the world of work after leaving school aged 16 to run a team of Christmas elves. When she was 17, Alice became a freelance social media manager. Alice has since gone on to launch a successful podcast, run retreats, work with hundreds of one-to-one clients and be featured in top publications like Forbes and Business Insider.  In the episode, we discuss why young people should consider entrepreneurship as a career, the secrets to business growth, powering your marketing strategy and why taking uncomfortable actions is vitally important.  ----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online.  To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

It's time for episode two in season six of the Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan. Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the second episode is Sarah de-Vere Drummond, co-founder of Kip Hideaways, the membership website for affordable self-catering holiday rentals.  Sarah previously worked in the boutique travel industry and with her co-founder Liz Simpson spotted a gap in the market for an online community that features only self-catering hideaways.   Many of properties featured on the website are under the radar so they are kept exclusive by a membership service.Despite launching during the coronavirus pandemic when travel wasn't possible, the business saw a growth in memberships as people dreamt of their next holiday once restrictions were removed. ----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online.  To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedTo listen to previous podcast episodes, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back! This sixth season is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partners Vodafone Business, Builder.ai and JP Morgan. Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the first episode is Ailis Topley, founder of sustainable and refillable candles company Pott Candles.Ailis' business started as a lockdown hobby in 2020, but it now has sales of over £1m, its products are stocked in Selfridges and John Lewis and Ailis was named by Forbes as one of Europe's top young entrepreneurs.  Tune into the episode to hear the inspiring Pott Candles story and its founder's tips for business success. ----The business.connected hub is a free online training programme of workshops, webinars and e-learning modules designed to help businesses go digital, adopt new technology, and stay safe online.  To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/businessconnectedTo listen to previous episodes of the podcast, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

We've reached the end of series five of the Small Business Sessions. Joining us for the final episode is the brilliant serial entrepreneur, Simon Squibb, who has made it his mission to help 10 million people start and grow a business through The Purposeful Project.Simon's vision for supporting so many new entrepreneurs is driven by his own personal experiences. He left school at 15 and was kicked out of home by his mum but went on to start 19 companies and invest in over 60 start-ups. He also sold his branding and digital agency, Fluid, to PwC.Simon joins journalist Dan Martin to share insights from his incredible entrepreneurial adventures.For more information about Enterprise Nation and to listen to more episodes, visit www.enterprisenation.com/podcast Big thanks to all our brilliant guests and to everyone who has tuned in to this series of the podcast. 

We love accountants at Enterprise Nation and this week we're joined by a great one! Joanna Drinkwater, Enterprise Nation adviser and managing director of Grant McKnight, speaks to journalist Dan Martin about an absolutely essential skill for successful entrepreneurs; understanding your finances.Tune in for must listen tips on assessing the financial health of your business, creating a cashflow forecast, identifying cashflow gaps, financial mistakes to avoid, choosing an accountant, chasing late payment and lots more!To find out more about Enterprise Nation and to listen to previous podcasts, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

Running a business that's 100% focused on travel during a pandemic is quite the challenge. In January 2020, Anthony Collias and Jacob Webberburn-Day, co-founders of Stasher, a platform that connects travellers with places to store their bags, raised $2.5m funding and they moved into their first private office. Then March happened.In a must-listen episode, the entrepreneurs talk to Dan Martin about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, building a minimum viable product, how a cold email led to a £100,000 investment, tips for working with a co-founder, partnering with major chains and loads more!To find out more about Enterprise Nation and to listen to previous podcasts, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

This week we're looking at how digital technology can transform small businesses of all types. Whether you're selling products or services online or you're looking to reach customers from a physical store, by embracing the latest technology you can drive the sales and growth of your business. Joining journalist Dan Martin to discuss how to digitally transform your business are Sajni Shah, co-head of product at Starling Bank and John Hoyle, founder of Sook, a company providing adaptive and fully personalised retail spaces which business owners can rent by the hour. To find out more about Enterprise Nation and to listen to previous podcasts, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

Research shows that those business owners who take on advice grow their companies faster than those who don't, but with so much advice out there it can be hard to work out which advice to take on.As you'll know if you're an entrepreneur, you have a lot of plates to spin, so when should you seek advice and ask for help from others? And how do you go about picking the advisers to use?Joining journalist Dan Martin to discuss all that are two brilliant Enterprise Nation adviser members: Emma Mills-Sheffield from Mindsetup, who advises business owners on how to become more efficient, productive and efficient.Toby McCartney, the founder of MacCrebur, a hugely successful brand that turns non-recyclable waste plastics into materials to use as roads and car parks. He is also the author of Business ReLOVEution: A Mindset Paradigm for the Modern Entrepreneur. Throughout his business journey, Toby has taken on lots of advice, including from Sir Richard Branson. Listen to hear what Sir Richard told him!To find out more about Enterprise Nation and to listen to previous podcasts, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

This week we're talking business funding. In an advice-packed episode, Oliver Krishnan from Starling Bank and Ryan Hyde-Smith from Funding Options join journalist Dan Martin to demystify the world of finance and explain how to decide on the best option for your business, how to manage debt and common mistakes to avoid. Since this episode was recorded, Starling Bank has been accredited for the Recovery Loan Scheme, a government initiative set up to help small business owners deal with the coronavirus pandemic.To find out more about Enterprise Nation and to listen to previous podcasts, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The statistics are shocking: One million birds and 100,000 marine animals a year die from plastic pollution, eight million pieces of plastic end up in the oceans every day and for every mile of UK beaches, there are 5,000 pieces of plastic.It was figures like that which drove Beth Noy to launch Plastic Freedom. What started as a £300 investment to sell some of her favourite plastic free products is now a booming online store with over 3,000 brands. She has also built an Instagram community of 200,000 followers. Beth joins journalist Dan Martin to share her hugely inspiring story of turning a side hobby into a successful full-time business that tackles one of the great problems of our age.To find out more about Enterprise Nation and to listen to previous podcasts, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The transition period for Britain's exit from the European Union ended on 31 December 2020 so how has Brexit affected the UK's small businesses?  Freelance journalist Dan Martin is joined by Mike Wilson, founder of Go Exporting, and Philip Salter, founder of The Entrepreneurs Network, to discuss it. To find out more about Enterprise Nation and to listen to previous podcasts, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

This week journalist Dan Martin is joined by Symmie Swil, head of SME Banking at Starling Bank, and David Beardmore, ecosystem development director at Open Banking Implementation Entity to discuss how small businesses can embrace modern banking services.Symmie shares the vision of Starling Bank's founder Anne Boden for launching the digital bank, her views on the future of physical bank branches and how the company is supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs.Another exciting development for small businesses is open banking, which helps you move, manage and make more of your money.David Beardmore joins the podcast to explain how open banking can benefit small businesses and how it has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.To find out more about Enterprise Nation and to listen to previous podcasts, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

Entrepreneurs start businesses for many reasons. For Julie Deane CBE, it was to pay for her children to go to private school because her daughter was being bullied. She invested £600 to get her idea off the ground and just five years later, the Cambridge Satchel Company was valued at £40m. Julie joins journalist Dan Martin to share her super inspiring story. This one is a must listen!To find out more about Enterprise Nation and to listen to previous podcasts, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The coronavirus pandemic has been tough for many people but for some entrepreneurial individuals, it has been the time to start their own company. One of those new business owners is Katrina Borissova, founder of vegan soap brand Little Danube, who incorporated her new venture on 23 March 2020, the day the prime minister announced Britain was going into lockdown.In this week's episode, Katrina tells freelance journalist Dan Martin her inspiring story and explains how she launched her business during lockdown.Also on the show is Jade Evans from Starling Bank. She discusses how entrepreneurs have pivoted their business models to cope with the pandemic, the financial support the bank has provided to small companies and how founders have used the funding.To find out more about Enterprise Nation and to listen to previous podcasts, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast sponsored by Starling Bank, is back! Every week for 12 weeks, freelance journalist Dan Martin speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about their tips, insights and inspiration for how to start and grow a brilliant business. First up is Ben Keene, co-founder of Rebel Book Club. How many books do you have that you've never read? It's probably loads. The Japanese describe it as 'tsundoku', the constant act of buying books but not reading them. Ben was a big sufferer! With his friend Ben Saul-Garner, he looked for a way to be motivated to read all those untouched ideas. Rebel Book Club was the solution. It's now a successful subscription company that brings people together around a love for non-fiction and a desire to turn book insights into action.In an advice-packed podcast, Ben discusses how to grow a subscription model, raising £148,000 and the realities of crowdfunding, switching online during the coronavirus pandemic and how to find your minimum viable audience. To find out more about Enterprise Nation and to listen to previous podcasts, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

This week's Small Business Sessions podcast welcomes Henry Deakin, who's taken the helm of seventh generation family business Deakin & Francis. Gemologist and designer Deakin discusses his gamble to open a flagship store in Piccadilly Arcade, influencer marketing and what it's like to join the family firm with host Dan Martin. The Small Business Sessions is powered by Xero and we've got an exclusive offer of 50% off the cloud accounting software for 12 months! Find out more at https://www.enterprisenation.com/xero-beautiful-accounting-software/

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by Xero, is back for another episode. Series four, hosted by Enterprise Nation head of content Dan Martin, features a brilliant line-up of entrepreneurs and experts sharing insights and inspiration on how to start and grow a brilliant business.Late payment is a massive issue for small businesses. Recent research showed UK SME late payment debt has risen to £23.4bn, up £10.4bn on the £13bn owed in 2018. It is estimated that the average business is owed £23,360 in late payments and there are an estimated 50,000 insolvencies as a result of the problem every year.In this podcast, we're joined by former Small Business Commissioner Paul Uppal (he left the role after we recorded the podcast) and Rob Drake, co-founder of Brave Spark. They discuss issues including how to chase payments, how the Small Business Commissioner's office can help, examples of large businesses that aren't paying on time, whether big businesses should be fined for not paying late and the impact of late payment on business owners' mental healthTo find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by Xero, is back for another episode. Series four, hosted by Enterprise Nation head of content Dan Martin, features a brilliant line-up of entrepreneurs and experts sharing insights and inspiration on how to start and grow a brilliant business.This week we're joined by Ry Morgan, co-founder of Unmind, a B2B workplace wellness platform that decreases stress, enhances sleep, and improves the business performance of employees. Ry started the business for very personal reasons having suffered clinical depression himself and having to see a crisis team every day for two weeks because he was deemed at high risk of suicide. He had various therapy sessions and was put on medication all whilst building and exiting his first business.  In a hugely insightful podcast, the serial entrepreneur explains how he has built the platform, getting businesses on board, why bosses need to support their employees' health and wellbeing, raising millions in funding from investors who care about the issue and his tips for how entrepreneurs can manage their own mental health.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by Xero, is back for another episode. Series four, hosted by Enterprise Nation head of content Dan Martin, features a brilliant line-up of entrepreneurs and experts sharing insights and inspiration on how to start and grow a brilliant business.This week we welcome an entrepreneur whose business journey we've followed from the start. Krisi Smith is the co-founder of Bird & Blend Tea Co. which she set up with her partner Mike in a back bedroom. Five years on the business operates seven retail stores across the UK selling its loose leaf tea and other products. Along the way Krisi and Mike have achieved many successes including crowdfunding over £364,000 in 24 hours. In an insights packed podcast, Krisi discusses growing from a bedroom start-up, the reasons behind the business' crowdfunding success, why she turned down the big four supermarkets, building a strong community around her brand, why she had to change her business' name, how to make the most of Christmas for your business and lots more!To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by Xero, is back for another episode. Series four, hosted by Enterprise Nation head of content Dan Martin, features a brilliant line-up of entrepreneurs and experts sharing insights and inspiration on how to start and grow a brilliant business.Gone are the days when businesses only had one or two options for funding; there are now lots of choices. One of them is Iwoca, which provides business loans of £1,000 - £200,000 without long waits and endless paperwork. In this week's podcast, Colin Goldstein, Iwoca's commercial growth director, joins Edwards Berks, at Xero, to discuss: finance options open to small businesses, how to manage cashflow, the role of accountants, dealing with late payment and the government's alternative finance referral scheme.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by Xero, is back for another episode. Series four, hosted by Enterprise Nation head of content Dan Martin, features a brilliant line-up of entrepreneurs and experts sharing insights and inspiration on how to start and grow a brilliant business. You might recognise this week's guests from TV. ​In 2017 Ed Hollands won £30,000 investment on Dragons' Den from entrepreneur Jenny Campbell. Ed's business is DrivenMedia which allows brands to advertise on the back of trucks. Before the Den, Jenny Campbell spent 32 years in banking after joining Natwest aged 16. She went on to buy YourCash, an independent cash machine provider, from RBS which she ran for 10 years before selling it in 2016. It's rare to hear an investor and their investee together so this is a fascinating chat. Tune in for to hear issues covered including what it's really like to pitch on Dragons' Den, how Jenny Campbell decides to invest in a business, how to value your business, the state of entrepreneurship in the UK and Jenny's thoughts on why young people should get a job before starting a business.

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by Xero, is back for another episode. Series four, hosted by Enterprise Nation head of content Dan Martin, features a brilliant line-up of entrepreneurs and experts sharing insights and inspiration on how to start and grow a brilliant business. This week we're all about business growth with two entrepreneurs telling us how they've scaled their companies and what you can learn. Gary Turner is the co-founder and UK managing director of Xero. He grew the accounting software firm from a three person start-up with £50,000 revenue to a £40m+ business and hundreds of staff. Joining him is Sidonie Warren, the co-founder of independent stationery retail chain Papersmiths. What started as a studio space in Bristol became a small shop with a budget of £500 and a lot of elbow grease. That business now has five stores in Brighton, Bristol and London. While Papersmiths and Xero are very different businesses, Gary and Sidonie have similar experiences and views on business growth. In an insights-packed episode, listen out for tips and advice on finding great talent from the start, growing and maintaining a strong company culture, the importance of social media, creating an effective brand identity and why consumers want an experience as well as great products. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by Xero, is back for another episode. Series four, hosted by Enterprise Nation head of content Dan Martin, features a brilliant line-up of entrepreneurs and experts sharing insights and inspiration on how to start and grow a brilliant business. This week we're joined by podcaster and influencer, Sarah Akwisombe. Sarah started her interior design blog on the side while working at a tech start-up. The blog grew and she decided to take it full time. She has since become an influencer in the interior design world and worked with major brands including Dulux. Sarah now also runs No Bull Business School which delivers "straight-up courses to help women build a kick-ass business and brand" and the No Bull Business Women podcast. In a podcast packed full of insights, the entrepreneur discusses how to grow a readership for your blog, the importance of video, podcasting and Instagram, why women in business face different challenges to men, female entrepreneurs' confidence and appetite for risk and running a business with your partner. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by Xero, is back for another episode. Series four, hosted by Enterprise Nation head of content Dan Martin, features a brilliant line-up of entrepreneurs and experts sharing insights and inspiration on how to start and grow a brilliant business.Only two years after launching her healthy healthy bakery company Fit Bakes, Enterprise Nation member Ellen Rauen-Prestes has managed to get her cakes stocked in major retailers including Sainsbury's and Selfridges. The Brazilian-born entrepreneur came up with her business idea when she noticed that Brits have an awkward relationship with cakes. Although we have entire supermarket aisles dedicated to the sweet treat, it was hard to find low sugar, low calorie or high protein varieties.  It was a culture shock to Ella as back in Brazil, healthy substitutes are the norm. For example, you'll find stevia in the sugar pot or have a glass of coconut water instead of squash. With that realisation, Fit Bakes was born.  In a podcast packed full of insights, the entrepreneur discusses how she has used social media influencers to grow sales, the importance of Facebook advertising and retargeting, how to get retail buyers on side, why email marketing is still vital to business growth and how to use awards to grow trust around your brand.To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by Xero, is back for another episode. Series four, hosted by Enterprise Nation head of content Dan Martin, features a brilliant line-up of entrepreneurs and experts sharing insights and inspiration on how to start and grow a brilliant business. In episode two, Sylwia Kotarba from Accounts and Legal discusses Making Tax Digital (MTD), the government initiative which aims to see the end of the tax return and transform the tax system. Since April, businesses with turnover above the £85,000 VAT threshold have been required to submit tax information digitally in an effort to make systems and businesses more efficient and deal with the £9.4bn tax revenues lost each year due to errors.In the podcast, Kotarba explains what MTD is, what you need to do to comply and what happens if you don't. She also provides great advice on how to select the perfect accountant for your business. To find out more, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcastUseful resources relevant to this podcast:Making Tax Digital government advice: https://buff.ly/2p98ACXEnterprise Nation Making Tax Digital hub: https://buff.ly/2oi6ZKu

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast powered by Xero, is back!  For series four, a brilliant line-up of entrepreneurs and experts share insights and inspiration on how to start and grow a brilliant business. Hosted by Enterprise Nation head of content Dan Martin, we'll be covering issues including business growth, retail, late payment, mental health and alternative finance over 12 episodes. For episode one, we're joined by Emma Jones, who launched Enterprise Nation after starting and selling a business from home after just 15 months and Anne Timpany, who built a one man band domestic plumbing business into a multi-million pound building services group. As an introduction to the subjects covered in the series, Emma and Anne discuss having a growth mindset, chasing late payments, female entrepreneurs' attitude to risk and small business owners' mental health and wellbeing. To find out more, go to https://www.enterprisenation.com/podcast

The Small Business Sessions podcast from Enterprise Nation and powered by Xero is back for another inspiring episode. Every week Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones speaks to entrepreneurs and experts about starting and growing a successful business. In the last episode of the current series of the Small Business Sessions podcast with Xero we meet Jas Bagnieowski, co-founder of mattress company Eve. Eve is a company which saw massive growth very quickly. In its first year, the business sold 11,000 mattresses and made a turnover of £3.5m. It also raised £57m, much of which came from the company going public in 2017. But the losses were high too and in July 2018, Bagnieowski quit following a profit warning after a 61% sales growth, short of the 100% growth expected. We recorded this podcast before the entrepreneur stepped down but have chosen to still release it to give insights into the early growth of the business. To find out more about the Small Business Sessions, go to www.enterprisenation.com/podcastThis podcast was recorded and edited by audio and podcast production service, Podraffi.